The investigation regarding the online pharmacy in Mobile has lasted for more than three years. And years after, the charge on 10 men in steroids conspiracy is set to start this week. Chief U.S. District Judge Ginny Granade already concluded the last-minute logistical issues and gave prosecutors a good chance since she decided to allow them to present evidence on the alleged history of Colorado’s businessmen on steroids.

Brett Branch is one of the 12 people named in the 198-count indictment. Branch runs a health company that authorities allege to have illegally sold steroids. One defendant had already pleaded guilty and another will be tried later this year.

Based on the investigation, Branch and business owners are recruiting doctors to write fake prescriptions for anabolic steroids, which Applied Pharmacy Services provide. Authorities also revealed that the said pharmacy where Branch once worked as a salesman, filled prescriptions outside legal parameters.

Meanwhile, Dennis Knizley, Branch’s attorney, would like to bar the testimony of Branch’s ex-wife. According to her, Branch used testosterone in high school in the 1980s. The ex-wife’s testimony also state that the accused gave money to people to buy steroids from Mexico between 1994 and 1997, and injected his two minor children with human growth hormone. According to Branch’s lawyer, Tracy Branch’s testimony would be irrelevant and would unfairly prejudice the jury.

Judge Granade already told the prosecutors not to raise the said allegations in the opening statement. The judge would also withhold a final ruling on the testimony after hearing questions that prosecutors ask. However, the testimony appears to be relevant, Granade added. Lead prosecutor Donna Dobbins contends that the testimony of Branch’s ex-wife is crucial in establishing a pattern with regards to Branch’s involvement with steroids such as his public advocacy of the muscle-building drug and his claim to be an expert. Dobbins said that Branch uses steroid himself. “He suffered side effects from the abuse of the drugs, himself. This isn’t something new for him… This is who he is.”

Prosecutors also intend to introduce further evidence such as invoices and other documents, substances seized from Branch’s home and wiretaps to nail Branch and bring him to jail. Secretly recorded conversations reveal that J. Michael Bennett, Applied Pharmacy’s supervising pharmacist, admitting his acts and part-owner Jason Kelley coordinating it.

Granade also refused to prohibit testimony from Paul Doering, professor at the University of Florida’s College of Pharmacy and Dr. Gary Wadler, who practices sports and internal medicine in Manhasset, N.Y. and serves as a professor of clinical medicine at New York University School of Medicine. Defense lawyers on the other hand argued that Wadler’s report improperly drew legal conclusions on the guilt of the pharmacists. They also argued that Doering is not qualified to testify on different matters such as doctor-patient relations and whether the prescribed steroids for medical purposes are safe. Granade will be waiting until Doering testifies to rule on objections to questions as they are made.

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